"Mastering the Art of Coaching: On Readiness, Supervision, and Growth."

In this episode of the Arete Coach Podcast, host Severin Sorensen welcomes Clare Norman, a Master Certified Coach (MCC), author, and master mentor coach based in Brockenhurst, England. With over 25 years of experience in leadership and coaching, Clare specializes in executive coaching, leadership transitions, team coaching, and fostering coaching cultures within organizations. She is also the founder of Clare Norman Coaching Associates and the author of several books, including The Transformational Coach, Mentor Coaching: A Practical Guide, and her latest release, Cultivating Coachability. In this conversation, Clare shares her insights on coaching readiness, supervision, and the journey toward masterful coaching.

Clare’s path into coaching began during her tenure at Accenture, where she recognized the gap between leadership training and the practical application of learned concepts in the workplace. Witnessing the struggle leaders faced in implementing training-driven changes, she discovered coaching as a powerful tool for sustained behavioral transformation. Her research-based approach led her to champion coaching as an organizational development tool, earning her the self-appointed title of “advocate for coaching” within Accenture.

Clare’s journey toward mastery was gradual, transitioning from an ACC to PCC and ultimately to an MCC credential with the International Coaching Federation (ICF). She emphasizes the importance of supervision in this journey, highlighting how mentor coaching and supervision allowed her to unlearn ineffective habits, refine her skills, and deepen her presence as a coach.

Key Insights & Takeaways

1. The Role of Supervision in Coaching Mastery

• Coaching supervision is essential for ethical, professional, and personal growth.
• It provides a reflective space to analyze coaching effectiveness, ethical dilemmas, and personal biases.
• Supervision helps coaches avoid common pitfalls and ensures they remain client-centered.

2. Coaching Readiness vs. Coachability

• Clare differentiates between “coaching readiness” and “coachability.”
• Not everyone is immediately ready for coaching; readiness depends on motivation, timing, and willingness to engage in deep thinking.
• Organizations should assess coaching readiness before assigning a coach to an executive.

3. The Journey from PCC to MCC

• Mastery requires significant unlearning, particularly around directive coaching tendencies.
• Key shifts include summarizing less, using the client’s own words to formulate powerful questions, and focusing on depth over breadth.
• Effective coaching is about presence, patience, and helping clients slow down to gain clarity.

4. The Importance of Full-Body Wisdom in Coaching

• Coaching is not just about cognitive processing but also involves emotional and somatic awareness.
• Encouraging clients to stand, move, or explore metaphors can unlock deeper insights.
• Full-body wisdom integrates intuition, gut feelings, and physical awareness into coaching conversations.

5. The Intersection of AI and Coaching

• Clare acknowledges the rise of AI-driven coaching but emphasizes that human connection remains irreplaceable.
• AI can serve as a useful in-between tool for coaching clients but should not replace human coaches.
• Ethical concerns and ensuring AI remains non-directive are critical.

Memorable Quotes

“Hours of coaching do not a master make.”

“Our job as coaches is to build the client’s thinking muscles, not do the thinking for them.”

“Supervision isn’t about fixing; it’s about refining and deepening our coaching presence.”

The Arete Coach Podcast explores the art and science of executive coaching. You can find more about this podcast at aretecoach.io.

This episode was recorded on February 7, 2025.

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